Frame Plumbing System and Method

ABSTRACT

The invention resides in a frame plumbing system and method typically for the plumbing and levelling of panels, frames or walls, having an outer frame member, an inner panel/frame/wall member sized to fit within the outer frame member, and a fastener adapted to plumb the inner frame member relative to the outer frame member. The frame plumbing method includes placing an inner frame member within the outer frame member and then inserting the fastening member through the inner frame and into the outer frame member. The fastening member can be tightened or un-tightened so that the inner frame member is able to move toward or away from the outer frame member. The tightening or un-tightening the fastening means causes the inner frame member to move relative to the outer frame member until the inner frame member is situated in a plumb/level position. Once the inner frame member is plumb with the outer frame member, the inner frame member is secured to the outer frame member.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application hereby claims priority under 37 CFR 1.55 to the application pending before the New Zealand patent office, filed on 18 Aug. 2006, titled Frame Plumbing System & Method and identified as NZ 549268.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a frame plumbing system & method typically for the plumbing and leveling of panels, frames or walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The plumbing panels, frames or walls previously when building a structure such as a house has been a very difficult process involving a number of persons in order to plumb and level a panel, frame or wall relative to the structure to which the panel, frame or wall is been situated or attached to.

Previously the plumbing and leveling process involves a piece of bracing timber nailed at the top of the frame with a person at the bottom of the frame ready to nail the brace when the frame is plumb. One person needs to be on the level or plumb bob, another person has to push the frame one way or the other to get the frame to a plumb position and the third person has to nail the brace at the bottom of the frame plate to secure the frame to a plumb position.

In most cases large frames arrive on site out of square, and these frames require two or three people to twist, bend and put the frame back into a plumb position which is known as “racking” the frame, however this can weaken the frame, thus reducing the integrity of the frame and the structure to which the frame is secured to. Also in most cases a tie down ratchet has to be used to move the frame.

Generally the known plumbing process are cumbersome, labor intensive and not always accurate which can lead structures not having correctly plumbed panels, frames or walls and in some instances structures in which the integrity of which has been compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a frame plumbing system & method typically for the plumbing and leveling of panels, frames or walls that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the invention resides in a frame plumbing system typically for the plumbing and levelling of panels, frames or walls, wherein the frame plumbing system includes:

-   -   (i) an outer frame member,     -   (ii) an inner panel/frame/wall member sized and adapted to fit         within the outer frame member, and     -   (iii) fastening means adapted to plumb the inner         panel/frame/wall member relative to the outer frame member,

wherein the fastening means are positioned and inserted through the inner panel/frame/wall member into the outer frame member such that as the fastening means is tightened the inner panel/frame/wall member moves toward the outer frame member and when un-tightened moves away from the outer frame member so that inner panel/frame/wall member is able to be positioned in a plumb/level position before the inner panel/frame/wall member is secured and fixed to the outer frame member.

Preferably, the fastening means is hex screw or hex bolt or any other suitable fastening means such as bolts, screws, nails, wire or the like.

Preferably, the inner panel/frame/wall member is a panel frame having top and bottom cross members and spaced apart by vertical studs positioned therebetween, wherein the studs are spaced apart by horizontal dwangs.

Preferably, the inner panel/frame/wall member is fixed and secured to outer frame member once plumbed by known fastening means such as nails, screws, brackets, bolts, adhesives or the like.

Preferably, prior to plumbing of the panel to the frame, the base of the panel is fixed and secured to the base of the frame and/or the foundations or load supports of the structure.

In a second aspect the invention resides in a frame plumbing method typically for the plumbing and levelling of panels, frames or walls, having an outer frame member, an inner panel/frame/wall member sized and adapted to fit within the outer frame member, and fastening means adapted to plumb the inner panel/frame/wall member relative to the outer frame member, wherein the frame plumbing method includes:

-   -   a) placing an inner panel/frame/wall member within the outer         frame member,     -   b) positioning and inserting through the inner panel/frame/wall         member into the outer frame member such that the fastening         member is adapted to be tightened or un-tightened so that the         inner panel/frame/wall member is able to move toward or away         from the outer frame member,     -   c) tightening or un-tightening the fastening means to cause the         inner panel/frame/wall member to move relative to the outer         frame member until the inner panel/frame/wall member is situated         in a plumb/level position, and     -   d) securing and fixing the inner/frame/wall member to the outer         frame member.         Preferably, the fastening means is hex screw or hex bolt.

Preferably, the inner panel/frame/wall member is a panel frame having top and bottom cross members and spaced apart by vertical studs positioned therebetween, wherein the studs are spaced apart by horizontal dwangs.

Preferably, the inner panel/frame/wall member is fixed and secured to outer frame member once plumbed by known fastening means such as nails, screws, brackets, bolts, adhesives or the like.

Other aspects of the invention are herein described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a plumbed panel within a wall frame in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a close up view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, namely the plumbing/levelling of a panel, frame or wall within a structure. The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1 & 2 shows an assembled and plumbed panel 6 within a wall frame. The wall frame consists of frame having top and bottom cross members 4 and vertical studs 3 defining an opening in which a corresponding sized panel 6 is adapted to fit within the opening. The panel 6 consists of top and bottom members 5 and vertical studs 2 spaced apart by a plurality of horizontal dwangs. Within the upper third of the assembly hex screws or bolts 1 are positioned and it is the hex screws/bolts 1 that are used to plumb/level the panel to the frame prior to the panel being fixed and secured to the wall frame. The plumbing of the panel to the wall frame would normally only require one person with a ratchet, spanner or battery drill.

It is envisaged that the hex screw/bolt can be replaced with known suitable fasteners such as screws, bolts, nails, wire, etc.

Firstly the panel is positioned within the frame and a hex screw/bolt 1 on either side of the panel and positioned approximately 200 mm down from the top plate of the frame is screwed through the panel into the frame with a gap between the panel and the stud of the frame. This allows a degree of movement allowing the fixed panel to pull the frame towards it. As the hex screw is screwed on one side of the panel into the frame, the hex screw tightens and as such allows the frame to move towards the panel. When the frame has moved to a plumb position it is in effect in a position to be secured. If the hex screw is tightened such that the frame moves passed the plumb position it can be unwound and in doing so moves the frame back until the plumb position is achieved. Once the panel is in a plumb position the panel is then able to be fixed and secured to the wall frame in the usual manner using known techniques and fasteners.

Preferably, prior to plumbing of the panel to the frame, the base of the panel is fixed and secured to the base of the frame and/or the foundations or load supports of the structure.

Advantages

-   -   a) Only one person required to assemble and plumb         panel/frame/wall to desired structure.     -   b) Less cost     -   c) Panel/frames/walls retain initial structural integrity     -   d) Ability to re-plumb.

Variations

Throughout the description of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprising” and “comprises”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is hereinafter claimed in the appended claims 

1. A frame plumbing system for the plumbing and levelling of panels, frames or walls, wherein the frame plumbing system includes: (i) an outer frame member, (ii) an inner member sized and adapted to fit within the outer frame member, and (iii) fastening means adapted to plumb the inner member relative to the outer frame member, wherein the fastening means are positioned and inserted through the inner member into the outer frame member such that as the fastening means is tightened the inner member moves toward the outer frame member and when un-tightened moves away from the outer frame member so that inner member is able to be positioned in a plumb/level position before the inner member is secured and fixed to the outer frame member.
 2. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner member is a panel or frame or wall member.
 3. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening means is hex screw or hex bolt or any other suitable fastening means such as bolts, screws, nails or wire.
 4. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening means is positioned a distance down from the top of the outer frame and is inserted through the inner member into the outer frame.
 5. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said distance is approximately 200 mm.
 6. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is a gap between the inner member and the outer frame.
 7. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein inner member is a panel frame having top and bottom cross members and spaced apart by vertical studs positioned therebetween, wherein the studs are spaced apart by horizontal dwangs.
 8. The frame plumbing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner member is fixed and secured to outer frame member once plumbed by known fastening means such as nails, screws, brackets, bolts or adhesives.
 9. The frame plumbing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, prior to plumbing of the panel to the frame, the base of the panel is fixed and secured to the base of the frame and/or the foundations or load supports of the structure.
 10. A frame plumbing method for the plumbing and levelling of panels, frames or walls, having an outer frame member, an inner member sized and adapted to fit within the outer frame member, and fastening means adapted to plumb the inner member relative to the outer frame member, wherein the frame plumbing method includes: i. placing an inner member within the outer frame member, ii. positioning and inserting through the inner member into the outer frame member such that the fastening member is adapted to be tightened or un-tightened so that the inner member is able to move toward or away from the outer frame member, iii. tightening or un-tightening the fastening means to cause the inner member to move relative to the outer frame member until the inner member is situated in a plumb/level position, and iv. securing and fixing the inner member to the outer frame member.
 11. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner member is a panel or frame or wall member.
 12. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fastening means is hex screw or hex bolt.
 13. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner member is a panel frame having top and bottom cross members and spaced apart by vertical studs positioned therebetween, wherein the studs are spaced apart by horizontal dwangs.
 14. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner member is fixed and secured to outer frame member once plumbed by known fastening means such as nails, screws, brackets, bolts or adhesives.
 15. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fastening means is positioned a distance down from the top of the outer frame and is inserted through the inner member into the outer frame.
 16. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the said distance is approximately 200 mm.
 17. The frame plumbing method as claimed in claim 17, wherein there is a gap between the inner member and the outer frame. 